In his landscaping blog, Fernando Pozuelo discusses the principles of the 3-30-300 rule proposed by the urban forester Cecil Koninjnendijk, aiming to create “healthy” cities. The rule suggests asking yourself if you can see three trees from your home, if you live in a neighborhood with 30% green cover, or if you have a park within 300 meters. Pozuelo details how individuals in large cities, distant from natural environments, can approach this rule and suggests suitable plant species for balconies, terraces, or windows, along with creating a small garden in your living room.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends access to a green space of at least 0.5 hectares, within 300 meters in a straight line from each residence. Despite Spain having the largest biosphere in the European Union, this recommendation is scarcely fulfilled in major Spanish cities.

To assess proximity to green areas, urban forester Cecil Koninjnendijk proposes asking the following questions: Can you see three trees? Does your neighborhood have 30% green cover? Do you live within 300 meters of a park? These questions correspond to the 3-30-300 rule, emphasizing the need for cities to meet at least one of these criteria, as direct contact with the natural environment offers physical and mental health benefits, according to the WHO.

Fernando Pozuelo complements the 3-30-300 rule with the theory of the Four-Leaf Clover and the imaginary green line, highlighting the alignment of citizens with nature. The relationship between humans and the three elements – trees, green spaces, and parks or gardens – not only brings health benefits but also fosters ecological awareness. “This imaginary green line opens up an energetic sense of nature within cities,” explains Fernando Pozuelo.